Plan B.

Start. Grange-over-Sands (Main Street car park).

Route. Grange-over-Sands (main Street car park) - Promenade - Railway Station - Windermere Road - Eggerslack Wood - Bishop's Allotment - Hampsfell - Fell End - Grange Fell Road - Grange-over-Sands.

Notes. At the moment I have two bags packed, one for the mountains Plan A, the other for the valleys and low hills, Plan B such is the unpredictable weather at the present. Today was plan B, I had a slim three hour weather window where the sun might make an appearance, with the worst weather forecast around Morecambe Bay, I took a chance and drove to Grange-over-Sands.

I was heading up an old favourite, Hampsfell, I’d walked along the Promenade from the car park, passed under the railway line then followed Windermere Road out of the village to the start of a footpath climbing through Eggerslack Wood. The sun was shining as I ascended through dappled light, the path crossed two private drives before reaching some concrete structures, water tanks last used in the 1940s, looking like they’ll never be used again.

The climbing continued until a dry stone wall blocked my way, a stile allowed access to sheep pastures, I crossed before ascending into stunning vistas. This hill may be low but it starts at sea level and gifts the lucky walker wonderful views for little effort. I carried on to the next dry stone wall, again a stile aided my crossing, I wandered between limestone scars a green trod under foot, the Hospice marking the summit soon tilted into view and I found myself amongst the first people I’d seen since setting out.

The path extended south along a wide grassy ridge crossing one unnamed summit followed by Fell End, it ushered me over stiles, across an old county boundary marked by a tumble down dry stone wall, before reaching the beacon on Fell End, I’d run out of hill, all that remained the long descent into Grange-over-Sands. Through gorse I descended a good path under foot, a stile allowed access to Spring Bank Road, after crossing said road I traversed the corner of a field to access Grange Fell Road, turned left and descended back to the Promenade.

view route map.

home.

Holme Island as seen from the Promenade at Grange.

Grey on the horizon Humphrey Head, the building in the shot is the Grange Lido built in 1932, closed like many lidos in the country when health and safety rules were revised and government policy change towards leisure pools, left to rot for 25 years but now up for re-development as a public space..

En route through Eggerslack Wood, originally the wood was coppiced to provide wood for charcoal and bobbins for the textile mills.

Water tanks with an unclear purpose, apart from the fact they stored water, said to be Victorian built to slack the thirst of the good citizens of Grange, some say an emergency water supply during World War II, others say a waters supply for private houses, all I know is they were last used in the 1940s.

Dappled light, Eggerslack Wood.

Bewitching beauty of the limestone scenery of South Lakeland.

Heading through a stunning tract of limestone scenery.....

....and behind me this, Whitbarrow stands guard over the fertile plane of the Kent valley.

Near the summit of Hampsfell enjoying stunning views to Arnside and sylvan Arnside Knott.

Hampsfell Hospice built in 1846 by the Vicar of Cartmel, a safe haven for weary travelers whom have just crossed the bay.

Wonderful views across the Vale of Cartmel.

Seen from the limestone scars on the summit of Hampsfell the tiny community of Cartmel, across a distant horizon the Furness Peninsula.

Until 1974 this wall marked the county boundary between Westmorland and Lancashire, Cumberland and Westmorland were then merged to form Cumbria including some parts of Lancashire and Yorkshire, the government at the time saw fit to give us (Cumbria) all the best bits.

Following a re-assuring path looking back to the summit of Hampsfell.

Strolling along the gentle rolling Hampsfell Ridge looking west over Cartmel Sands and the Leven Estuary to the long finger of the Furness Peninsula.

The Vale of Cartmel with the elegant spire of St Peter's Church, Field Broughton clearly visible.

The high tops of the Coniston massif melt into a distant horizon.

The summit Fell End.

Viewing Humphrey Head and the vast expanse of Morecambe Bay with the Irish Sea pushing up the estuary.

Descending Fell End soaking up views to Arnside Park and Know End Point on the Arnside/Silverdale Coast.

Viewing Arnside Knott from the Promenade with Holme Island dark to the left.

Lapping wavelets and silvery seascapes, the rising tide at Grange-over-Sands.

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